Positive/Negativity (25 page)

“The world sees it with every magazine they buy. You’re one of their definitions of beauty. To them,
you’re
the perfect one.” As I set my eyes on his, I could feel the tears start to fall. “I hate to admit this, but there are times when I feel that I’m not beautiful enough to deserve to be with you… and that people can see it when they look at us together.”

I didn’t want to admit that fear to him, but I needed to say it. I waited for some sort of strong reaction. What I received instead pierced my heart more deeply and effectively than anger or disgust.

“Then
you
and
they
have it all wrong, Aria. There’s only one that knows my heart. I’m going to tell you something very personal. When I was a little boy and our dad left, my mom used to say to Carter and I that, when we grew up, she hoped that God would help us find the beautiful women that she believed
He
had already chosen for us. In fact, she used to add that request in our nightly prayers. When mom died, Carter had already found Lacey. She used to say that Carter found the one that was chosen for him. When Mom was close to the end of her time here, she said that one day I’d find the perfect, beautiful person who was chosen for
me
. I only agreed with her to humor a sick and dying woman, but I’ll admit now that my mother was right. I don’t care what the world’s definition of beauty is, Aria.
You
are
my
definition of beauty and perfection. Everything I see in your face is perfect to me, and every curve of your body is anything I could have ever desired. Those are things that are subjective to the beholder. What is most beautiful and perfect to me about you is your heart; the way that you love me. At the end of each day, you still love me no matter what mistakes I’ve made or what a fool I’ve been. When I look into your eyes, something magical and transforming happens to me that goes straight through my heart and soul. I believe that I’ve found the one that was chosen for
me
. That someone is
you
.
You’re
the beautiful starfish who clings to this coarse and ragged seashell, despite the storms…we simply will go through them together.”

The sincerity of Declan’s expression unhinged my emotions, and I felt I could no longer stay in a public place. I was about to embarrass myself in Fresco’s…

He was still holding my hand when I whispered, “Please take me home…”

…and driving down Coastal Highway, a beautiful Ford Mustang took pleasure in driving to the beach…a perfect place for a seashell and a starfish to be…

T
Bella Luna – Jason Mraz

TT
Our Love is Easy – Melody Gardot

TTT
One and Only – Adele

TTTT
Blue Glasses – Smokey & Milo

When we went back to my house and parked Aria’s new car, I made a mental note to phone Harris Michaels at the Ford dealership tomorrow. I wanted to personally commend him and his staff on the excellent part they played in the Mustang surprise for Aria. Buying the car was just a spontaneous idea that had occurred to me while in Tokyo.

Aria always commented about my car whenever we went out for a drive. From the first time I picked her up for a date, she was quite surprised that I owned a blue and silver, 1987 Ford Mustang. I suppose that, since she’d seen most of my ad work in suits, and most of my time with her I was in casual wear, she’d assumed that I’d arrive in a more conservative car. She just smiled as I buckled her into her seat belt. When I questioned her in the car, she just said, “I never pictured you as a
motor head
.” Then she laughed.

Since that day, Aria would always tease that she’d get her
own
Mustang—I just beat her to it. Once I realized my mistake in overreacting with regard to Aria’s purchase of the building, the plan suddenly came together in my head. It seemed as if not only would the point be made, but we could see how our relationship was growing deeper. I wanted her to understand that I desired her to be the most precious part of my life. If she felt
I
was serious enough for
her
to purchase a building, then she’d know that
I
felt
she
was serious enough to receive a Mustang. I do believe that’s what we were trying to say to each other through our extravagant gestures. It also helped that the car was in her favorite color. The look on her face tonight was absolutely priceless and one that I’ll never forget. She was never going to let this one go, saying that there was no way she was letting me buy her a car. In time, I knew she would get used to the idea. We could just bicker and grumble a little bit about it for a while, but the “make-up” would be well worth it! In the end, dinner was great, and it was turning out to be a perfect night.
T

When we arrived home, she removed her shoes, walked around to the front of the house, and placed her toes in the sand. She had stepped onto the porch and stopped to look out at the full moon shining over the ocean.

“Beautiful,” she said as she gazed out at the starlit sky.

I came up against her back and pressed into her, roaming my hands around her hips and down onto her stomach. I brought my lips down to her neck and kissed the sensitive area where her neck began to curve into her shoulder.

“Yes…you are,” I said.

She moved her neck to the left, and I brushed her hair with my hand, twisting it in my fist. I had been battling with control all through our dinner. After the animosity and distance our recent argument had caused between us, being with her in such a public place tested my resolve. Her nearness now made me realize that I was fighting a losing battle. With my hands near her body and sensing her warmth, I desperately wanted to touch Aria more than I needed air.

She placed her hands over mine, and rather than trying to hold them at bay, she drew them closer to her in agreement. She pushed back, pressing against me, leaving me no doubt as to her longing. Tossing her head back, she allowed me access to the side of her throat and her shoulder where I nestled my face. I had so missed my beautiful girl!

I brought my hand up to her breast and heard her quietly moan. The sound was all the encouragement I needed to direct my hands to roam over her curves as I teased and aroused her sexy body.

We were
home,
Aria and I. I had this feeling of contentment come over me. In this place of sea, sky, and sand there was complete euphoria and peace for the two of us. Our mood lighting was the full moon, our music the crashing waves. I could hear her breathing, and it quickened and deepened with the rhythm of the ocean sounds.

It…Was…Perfect.
TT

I gingerly reached and pulled the zipper lower and lower down the back of Aria’s dress. As I did, I kissed the back of her neck down into the sway of her curve. I used both hands to slide her dress off her shoulders and savored the touch of her skin on my lips by nipping and sucking all the way down. I then lowered myself into the Adirondack chair that she loved so much, and as I did, I began to travel her dress downward as a companion of my hands.

She stood before me in the moonlight as a goddess. Her dark hair hung down, covering her breasts and displaying her back to me. When I slid the dress down completely until it fell around her ankles, I sucked in my breath because she was so desperately beautiful. I felt privileged to have her as my own.

I sat back for a moment to savor my view. The emotions of the past few days began to build and join with my hopeless desire for her, and the throbbing of my own body reminded me that I was a man on a serious mission.

She began to turn around to me, but I directed her to stay to gain control of myself.

“No, beautiful…I want to look at you,” spoken from vocal chords that betrayed my fragile grip on self-control. It took all patience not to ravage her, but the anticipation would make the end result so sweet.

My heart beat in time with the incessant throbbing that urged me to claim her. As it beat, the rhythm burned these subliminal messages to my challenged senses…
Aria was perfection
…
Aria was enchanting
…
Aria was a treasure
…
Aria was intoxicating
…
Aria was
mine
…

Declan’s lips scorched my skin as his kisses traveled over my body. They hotly grazed as if they were the flick of a branding iron. I found that I craved his touch, and the events of the past week had only served to escalate my appetite for him.
TTT

I
hungered
for him. I
needed
him. I
ached
for him. He was entrancing, and I was under his spell. He directed, and I obeyed. Each touch of his hand, each massage of his fingertips, each suck of his lips, and each nip of his teeth confirmed that I was being marked by him, owned by him, and taken by him. He both lured me and engaged me with his touch.

With each kiss and lick, desire flowed through my body until each breath I took carried his lustful infection through the cells in my blood. I turned to face him, but when he directed me to stay in place, I felt sexy, desired, and beautiful as I could feel him studying me in the moonlight. I could sense the heat of his desire through his words. His intense stare on my breasts when I stilled at his command made me feel wanton. When he sat back in the chair to take in a thorough view of me, I felt and absorbed his total pleasure and raw desire.

Slightly moving my head to allow myself to look back at him, I knew he would take me; in fact, I was sure of it. I wanted him to know that I had my own agenda. He acknowledged my thoughts when his stare caught my eyes, and I confirmed them when I looked into his.

Declan stood, and my breath escaped me as he rose mighty above me. He was so potent, powerful, and dynamic that I felt incompetent for a moment. He pushed his hands into my hair as he cupped my head and lowered his lips, capturing mine with his kiss. In desperation for him, I no longer felt the need to breathe; I only needed the life force that he breathed into me.

I felt unsettled as his competent arm came around my back to support me. I was almost high with anticipation, for I no longer knew or regarded my surroundings.
He
became my universe, and only his touch penetrated my comprehension. When his lips left mine, his eyes stared into my soul and the word “
beautiful
…
”
escaped his lips. I felt levitated as Declan carried me through the house to his bed.